[Draft] 

[London, first half of February 1892] 

My dear Edward, 

It was a perfectly understood thing that I was to revise your trans- 
lation* in the ms. and that, having done so, I should give it the 
character of an authorized translation by writing a new preface 
to it.” 

After the action taken by Messrs Swan Sonnenschein & Co. with- 
out consultation with either of us, and in direct contravention to the 
above understanding, I am bound to reconsider my position. 

Your translation being made with the knowledge that I would re- 
vise it, is necessarily but a rough draft; moreover, you, as translator, 
would feel bound to stick to the letter of the original, when I, as the 
author, might deviate more or less from it and thus make the book 
read not as a translation but as an original work. To revise not the 
ms. but paged proofs in this spirit, would imply, more or less, the up- 
setting of the paging. 

Now, as far as I can see at present, there are but two courses open 
to me: 

Either I revise the proofs in full liberty, exactly as I would have re- 
vised your ms., regardless of the expense this may occasion. In that 
case our original understanding holds good, the translation is author- 
ized by me, and I write a preface. In that case we must have four 
more copies of proofs at least, and revise afterwards. 

Or, I am to respect the proof-sheets, as far as the paging is con- 
cerned, and merely to make verbal changes within the limits of each 
page. In that case I will do my best to make the translation as good as 
I can, but I must decline being in any way connected with it before 
the public, and reserve to me the right of publicly declining any re- 
sponsibility for it if such would be imputed to me. 

As a matter of course, the expense caused in either case would have 

* of Socialism: Utopian and Scientific. See also this volume, p. 359.-> F. Engels, ‘Intro- 
duction to the English Edition (1892) of Socialism: Utopian and Scientific’. 

to be borne by Messrs Swan Sonnenschein & Co. who alone have 
brought it about.’ 

And on all these points I must ask for their decision in writing be- 
fore I stir in the matter.